Peruvian President Dina Boluarte has signed into law a controversial amnesty bill granting pardon to military personnel, police officers, and civilian self-defense committees accused of human rights violations during the internal armed conflict against the Shining Path guerrillas from 1980 to 2000. The legislation covers crimes committed during this decades-long conflict, which resulted in approximately 70,000 deaths under previous administrations, including that of Alberto Fujimori. Human rights organizations and international bodies have criticized the law, arguing that it undermines justice for victims and contravenes international human rights standards. The Inter-American Court of Human Rights has previously demanded the non-application of such amnesty measures, and a hearing concerning the law is scheduled for August 21. The Boluarte administration defends the law as a restoration of dignity for members of the security forces, but critics warn it opens the door to impunity for past atrocities. Peru thus joins other countries in the region, such as Nicaragua and Venezuela, that have enacted similar amnesty laws despite opposition from human rights advocates.